Massive Radiation Hurtling Toward Us, But Not to Worry

Just as we Earthlings were trying to adjust to the polar vortex, now comes a CME from the Sun.

Massive radiation is now hurtling toward us from the Sun’s Coronal Mass Ejection. According to the science website “How Stuff Works,” CME’s occur when “the fluctuations of the sun’s[2] magnetic fields cause a large portion of the surface of the sun to expand rapidly, ejecting billions of tons of particles out into space [and producing] a magnetic shockwave that extends billions of miles out into space. IfEarth[3] is in the path of that shockwave, our planet’s magnetic field will react to the event.”

If there were a spacewalk planned for this week, it would undoubtedly be cancelled. The astronauts on the space station are shielded from most radiation, so they’ll be fine. Here on Earth, the CME may affect communications. Or your plane may be rerouted. But not to worry: You, dear Earthling, should be safe.